Galveston to Bring in Fall Season with Outdoor Festivals, Historic Ghost Tours

GALVESTON, Texas (August 10, 2016) – The fall season brings what many consider to be the best weather of the year on Galveston Island, and with great weather comes outdoor events and festivals! For the next few months, the island’s calendar will be filled with activities to entertain and spook – from the annual Oktoberfest to historic ghost tours.

Galveston Island Wild Texas Shrimp Festival

September 23-25, 2016

Galveston Island is a seafood lover’s paradise all year round, but this September Yaga’s Entertainment Inc. will bring foodies a little taste of heaven at the Galveston Island Shrimp Festival to be held September 23-25. Featuring some of the best shrimp gumbo the Gulf Coast has to offer, this year’s festival includes a seafood cook-off, gumbo tasting, a L’il Shrimps Parade, live music, a children’s area and a Strand merchant walkabout. For details, visit www.galvestonshrimpfestival.com.

“Ghostly Galveston” Festivities

October 2016

The place of the deadliest storm in U.S. history, Galveston Island is a popular destination for “haunted” exploration. From a 105-year-old “haunted” hotel to Galveston’s storied harbor, cemeteries and Victorian mansions, there are numerous ghost tours to be explored throughout October. Both the historic Hotel Galvez and the Galveston Historical Foundation offer haunted history tours throughout the month. Enjoy spooks year-round with Dash Beardsley’s Ghost Tours of Galveston and Texas’ only year-round haunted house, Haunted Mayfield Manor.

ARToberFEST

October 15-16, 2016

If you love art, then you don’t want to miss the 19th annual ARToberFEST to be held October 15-16 in downtown Galveston. This juried fine art festival will feature various artists, food and live music on Postoffice Street amid Galveston’s Victorian architecture, art galleries and shops. Admission is $5 for adults with proceeds benefitting The Grand 1894 Opera House’s education and community outreach programs. For details, visit www.artoberfest.com.

Island Oktoberfest

October 21-22, 2016

Island Oktoberfest will “oompah” back to Galveston for its 35th year, celebrating German heritage with a full weekend of food, drinks, live performances, games and special activities. The festival will take place Oct. 21-22 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Galveston and will feature an expanded entertainment lineup. Admission to Oktoberfest is free and attendees are encouraged to dress in traditional German costumes. For details, visit www.galvestonoktoberfest.com.

Lone Star Motorcycle Rally

November 3-6, 2016

This November, visitors to Galveston have a chance to experience the largest four-day biker rally in the country as the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally makes its way to the island Nov. 3-6. More than 500,000 motorcyclists will gather among hundreds of vendors in a celebration of the finest machines known to man. The rally will include several bike shows, live concerts and a variety of celebrity appearances. For details, visit www.lonestarrally.com.

Fall Performances at The Grand

For laughs, Broadway and musical fun this fall, The Grand 1894 Opera House is your one-stop entertainment showplace. On Sept. 17 An Evening with Mark Russell, Politically Incorrect takes aim at our often absurd political process. Enjoy Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen Sept. 24 as he takes the stage with his powerful vocals and charismatic presence. Chubby Checker – the man who taught the world to do “The Twist” – and the Wild Cats will perform Oct. 15. Make reservations for a special Halloween weekend screening of The Hunchback of Notre Dame on Oct. 29. For details, visit www.thegrand.com.

Galveston Island is a historic beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles from Houston. The island is best known as a vacation destination, offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions, Texas’ premier cruise port and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country. For more information on Galveston Island visit www.galveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.